Feds to uphold Calif. tribal recognition decision

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Department of Interior will uphold a decision to add a Central California Native American tribe to a list of federally recognized tribes despite a critical assessment of the move by a government watchdog.

Federal recognition has given the Tejon Indian Tribe the right to a reservation where it can pursue a casino.

The department said in a statement that the Tejon did not appear on the list of federally recognized tribes solely due to an administrative error. It said the 2011 decision to reaffirm the tribe near Bakersfield corrected that error and will be upheld.

The department’s Office of Inspector General criticized the decision in a report released on Tuesday, saying it found no discernible process that was followed in recognizing the tribe.